First, let me say Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers out there who have done everything & anything for their child(ren.) I couldn't even begin to imagine myself going through all the things my mom had to endure and sacrifice for me and my older brother. That woman is seriously Superwoman in my eyes. She raised my brother and I by herself, worked her a** off to make ends meet and make sure we did more than just survive. She stressed the importance of educating ourselves in school, in the streets, and in life and embedded in us a certain determination for success that many people around us lack. I could never thank her enough for all that she has done for me, for I would definitely not be half the woman I am today if it wasn't for her. I went through a phase that most teenage girls go through in JR High - High School where I couldn't stand her. No matter how pure her intentions were, I felt like she was always out to get me and that her goal was to make my life a living hell. It wasn't until I really matured and went off to college when I learned to forgive her for the things I had once resented her for, because I held her to such high standards that I sometimes forgot that she is human , too. As I get older and develop more into an adult, I have more and more respect for her being able to raise me and my brother so well, all on her own. I cherish every moment with her now and I wouldn't want to spend this weekend with anyone else than her and my family.
We stayed upstate in the Catskills (NY) in this creepy but adorable country house. It was so nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and be surrounded by nothing but nature and my loved ones. The bonfire and S'mores were definitely a highlight from this weekend lol.

This post is the first of a new series I'm starting titled "Instalooks". These posts will basically be impromptu shoots taken on my iPhone of various lifestyle, food, and style subjects that I post on Instagram. It's a great way for me to publish more content on my blog without all the hassle of doing full blown photoshoots every single day. Don't worry though, I'll still have plenty of high quality

fashion based shoots for you guys as well! In these Instalook posts, I will be including brief outfit details, with links to similar items as I always do, but the focus of my writing may not always be on style or fashion i.e. food, culture, lifestyle, random thoughts, etc. I think it will be a great way for you guys to get to know me on a more personal level, and it also helps me mentally to let things out through writing. Hope you guys enjoy!